This year’s GTI meet in Wörthersee – an annual event for European Audi and Volkswagen performance enthusiasts that also saw the unveilling of the VW Golf GTI W12 concept – plays host to a new offering from Audi, in the form of the Audi Q5 Custom Concept.

Created as part of its “100 years of Audi” celebrations, Ingolstadt’s insane Q5 Custom Concept develops a goodly 300kW from the company’s new supercharged 3.0 litre TFSI six-cylinder petrol engine, and will – says Audi – bolt from zero to 100km/h in 4.4 seconds, topping out at an electronically-limited 250km/h.

Are we looking at the precursor to a new performance SUV from Audi, badged perhaps as the RQ5?

Wearing red-highlighted 21-inch versions of the 7 twin-spoke wheels most famously seen on the barn-storming Audi RS4, and sitting on a wider track and lowered ride height, the Q5 Custom Concept (let’s call it the Q5CC) features a special Daytona Grey finish and RS-style body kit.

The widened track is a good 90mm wider than the standard model, while the ride height has been dropped by a substantial 60mm.

The regular Q5 makes an agreeable 245kW, so the jump to 300kW is no small gain either.

The Q5CC isn’t the only car Audi isn’t displaying at this year’s GTI meet, either. Other notable models on show include the new 253kW Audi TT RS and Ingolstadt’s supercar, the Audi R8.

Audi at Wörthersee Tour 2009

• Customized Audi Q5 custom concept prepared for event

• Audi showing 20 cars – from TT RS and R8 to A1 concept

• "Audi Customizing Club" idea contest for accessories

• 3,000 square meter stand dedicated to "100 years of Audi"

Each year Wörthersee plays host to the now legendary GTI meet, at which auto enthusiasts and of course Audi fans from throughout Europe come together. AUDI AG once again has its own stand at this extraordinary event. The brand's appearance at the 28th Wörthersee Tour (from May 20-23) in Reifnitz, Kärnten (Austria), is dedicated to the centennial celebration "100 years of Audi." In addition to historic models from various decades, the Ingolstadt carmaker is featuring showcase vehicles such as the Audi TT RS, the Audi R8 5.2 FSI quattro and the Audi A1 Sportback. As a special highlight for the event at Wörthersee, Audi has prepared a customized Audi Q5 with 21-inch wheels, wider track, lowered ride height, a special paint finish and a power-enhanced 3.0 TFSI engine: the Audi Q5 custom concept.

This is Audi's third official appearance at the Wörthersee Tour. Among the events planned for the roughly 3,000 square meter stand on the south bank of the lake is the launch of an exclusive online idea contest for Audi accessories – the "Audi Customizing Club" (see box).

An "architectural" timeline guides those visiting the stand through the history of Audi as a carmaker. This timeline ends at a stage in the form of a banked curve with cars from Audi's current model lineup and a concept car.

Along the timeline itself are vehicles from various decades of Audi's history – from the Audi 50 via the Ur-quattro to the Audi A2. Audi is showing a total of 20 vehicles at its stand.

Prominently featured is the Audi Q5 custom concept: Audi engineers prepared this particularly sporty version of the SUV specially for the Wörthersee Tour. The test bed for Audi Genuine Accessories in the custom color Daytona Gray, matt rolls on 21-inch wheels of 7 twin-spoke design. Compared to the production model, the track was widened by 90 millimeters (3.54 in) and the ride height lowered by 60 millimeters (2.36 in). The power output of the 3.0 TFSI V6 engine has been increased from 245 kW (333 hp) to 300 kW (408 hp), allowing the Audi Q5 custom concept to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.4 seconds. Top speed is governed at 250 km/h (155 mph). (See box for technical data and equipment.)

Among the other showcase vehicles at Wörthersee are both the coupe and roadster versions of the new Audi TT RS. The turbocharged 2.5-liter, 5-cylinder engine in the TT RS pumps out 340 hp to deliver explosive acceleration, driving delight, and unrivalled sound. The TT RS sprints from zero to 100 km/h (62 mph) in well under five seconds on its way to a governed top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph). The quattro permanent all-wheel drive, an advanced suspension and powerful brakes keep all this power safely under control. With its mostly aluminum Audi Space Frame (ASF) body, the compact TT RS is an uncompromising driving machine.

On the subject of driving machines, the Audi R8 5.2 FSI quattro is also on display at Wörthersee. This mid-engine sports car further extends Audi's lead in the high-performance sports car segment. Developed in cooperation with quattro GmbH, the R8 5.2 FSI quattro is the new top-of-the-line R8. Its ten-cylinder engine produces 386 kW (525 hp) to deliver breathtaking performance. Audi technologies such as the lightweight aluminum body and the innovative full-LED headlights immediately place it at the head of the class. A time of 3.9 seconds for the sprint from zero to 100 km/h (62 mph) and a top speed of 316 km/h (196 mph) underscore the sports car's dynamic character.

Another very special member of the R8 family is also appearing at Wörthersee. The GT3 race version of the R8, the 500 hp R8 LMS, marks the first time that Audi Sport had developed a race car specifically for client racing. The ten-cylinder GT3 sports car is facing its first acid test this weekend (May 23 and 24): With factory support from Audi, the ABT Sportsline and Phoenix Racing teams have entered a total of four vehicles in the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring.

Audi is also providing a peek at its upcoming entry in the compact class below the A3 at Wörthersee: The A1 Sportback concept is the concept car for a five-door four-seater – with all the characteristics of a true Audi. The car, which is 3.99 meters long and 1.75 meters wide (13.09 feet long by 5.74 feet wide), combines trendsetting dynamic styling with optimized space efficiency and superb quality. At the same time, a series of visionary technical solutions take efficiency, dynamism and motoring pleasure into new territory as only Audi knows how.

Audi is presenting another version of the innovative hybrid technology in the drive unit for the A1 Sportback concept. At work under the hood is a 1.4-liter TFSI engine developing 110 kW (150 hp), whose power is directed to the front wheels by means of the S tronic dual-clutch transmission.

A 20 kW (27 hp) electric motor integrated in the drive train is able to deliver up to an additional 150 Nm of torque (111 lb-ft) when the vehicle is accelerating. During the boosting phase, i.e. when the TFSI engine and electric motor operate simultaneously to enable a sporty driving style, the two power packs deliver impressive propulsion. The tried-and-tested front-wheel drive – supplemented by the newly developed, ESP-controlled active front differential lock – ensures optimum transfer of power to the road.

The electric motor is furthermore capable of powering the vehicle alone for zero-emission driving. The capacity of the lithium-ion batteries gives the vehicle a range of up to 100 km (62 miles) in pure electric mode; the motor can be recharged from any power socket. The automatic start/stop facility, energy recovery and phases of purely electrical operation reduce the fuel consumption and emissions of the Audi A1 Sportback concept by almost 30 percent compared to when it is running on the combustion engine alone. Despite the sporty performance with a 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) acceleration time of 7.9 seconds and a top speed of 200 km/h (124 mph), the Audi A1 Sportback concept consumes only 3.9 liters of super unleaded per 100 km (60.31 US mpg). CO2 emissions are 92 g/km (148 g/mile).

Audi Genuine Accessories and Audi Design are launching an exclusive idea contest on the Internet for Audi A3 accessories at the Wörthersee Tour – the Audi Customizing Club. The participants will be chosen by Audi designers during the event and invited to submit creative proposals for such things as spoilers, side sills, headlights, rear lights, steering wheels, gear lever knobs, door handles, seats, mirrors, roof racks, or wheels.

These participants can use their personal invitation code to register at the Internet address www.audi-customizing-club.de and submit their contest entries between June 12 and August 15, 2009. Three winners will be chosen from all the concepts/ideas submitted for Audi Genuine Accessories; the announcement of the winners is tentatively scheduled for the second half of September.

The decision will be made by a star-studded jury: Michael Dick, Member of the Board of Management for Technical Development at Audi; Stefan Sielaff, Head of Audi Design; Heinz Hollerweger, Head of Total Vehicle Development at AUDI AG; and Audi DTM factory driver Mattias Ekström.

The three winning ideas will be further developed at workshops in cooperation with Audi Design and presented to the public on an Audi showcar at an as yet undetermined event next year. The winners will also be invited to the workshops and the event, with Audi providing travel, accommodation and an accompanying program.